It may only be mid-July, but Carbon Career and Technical Institute's joint operating committee is gearing up for the new school year.

At a public meeting Thursday, the committee agreed to buy 30 HP Pro One 400 G1 AIO computers and 15 HP display port adapters at a total cost of $23,805, which includes shipping and handling.The committee also announced that lunch prices will stay the same as last year. Type A students will pay $2.50, those qualifying for a reduced price will pay 40 cents, and adults will pay $5.Elizabeth Porter was again hired as a special education facilitator at $305 a day for 105 days. This is Porter's second year of doing that job.The committee also hired Dr. Debra Smith of the Switchback Medical Center, Jim Thorpe, as school physician for the 2014-15 school year, at a rate of $10 per student examination.It also hired the law firm of King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul for specialized work projects requiring state Department of Education certification for the 2014-15 fiscal year on an as-needed basis at a rate to be negotiated. The firm will not be on retainer, but will work as needed.It also hired the law firm of Hahalis & Kounoupis for specialized work regarding personnel issues for the 2014-15 year on an as-needed basis, again at a rate to be negotiated.The committee also hired Autumn Frey as an instructional aide for the Health/Medical program, effective Aug. 20, at $12,417.It kept Zimmerman's Dairy of Lehighton as its milk and juice supplier at the same prices as last year.The committee appointed Eugene Colosimo and Christina Graver as records retention officers, and Kristopher Rodgers as schoolwide co-curricular activities and student club/organization adviser. he is class adviser for the Class of 2017.In other matters, the committee agreed to continue a cosmetology scholarship program for CCTI graduates to attain the Pennsylvania cosmetology board instructor/manager license within the school's program.There will be no cost to the school for this service, and the committee said at least 10 area vocational-technical schools in the state offer this opportunity.The committee also agreed to continue to buy mandated student accident insurance for all secondary students attending the school from Mid-Penn Insurance Associates/First National Insurance of Shamokin at a cost not to exceed $1,850. The coverage includes the school day, to and from school, field trips, cooperative education and job shadow/internship activities.CCTI has used the company for the past 10 years.The committee also approved (non-special education) tuition rates for out-of-county students who will attend the school this year at no change from last year: Half year/half day, $5,400; half year/full day, $10,800; full year/half day, $10,800; full year/full day, $21,600.Out-of-county special education rates also did not change: Half year/half day, $6,525; half year/full day, $13,050; full year/half day, $13,050; full year/full day, $26,100.Also on Thursday, the committee announced that new student orientation will be held Aug. 18, and parent-teacher conferences on Oct. 22.